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Sakhi persuades Radha to meet Krishna, from a Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherd) of Jayadeva
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While all the cowherd girls were in love with Krishna, he had a favorite according to texts of the 1200s and later. Her name was Radha, and she and Krishna would meet for secret trysts in the forest, facilitated by her <em>sakhi</em>, or confidante.<br><br> Krishna is shown twice in this painting. At the right he is in the process of making a bed of leaves for their upcoming encounter, and in the middle, he spies on Radha, wearing orange and gold. The sakhi is encouraging Radha to go and meet Krishna, since he is pining for her.
| Artist / Maker | Purkhu |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1820–25 |
| Culture / Origin | Northern India, Pahari kingdoms |
| Medium | gum tempera and gold on paper |
| Dimensions | Overall: 24.1 x 32.1 cm (9 1/2 x 12 5/8 in.); with borders: 25.4 x 30.3 cm (10 x 11 15/16 in.) |
| Department | Indian and Southeast Asian Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Indian painter, active ca. 1790-1820 Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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